Abstract: The invention relates to a device (1) for processing data packets, comprising identification means (14) for identifying a data packet, processing means (11, 12) for cryptographically processing the data packet, and memory means (13) for storing information relating to the processing, in which device the processing means comprise at least a first (11) and a second (12) processing unit. Control means (14) are provided to assign, on the basis of the identification of a data packet, said data packet to one of the processing units and to process said data packet with the aid of information related to said data packet. Preferably, at least one processing unit (11; 12) is designed to encrypt or decrypt data packets, and the information relating to the processing comprises a key and a status of a processing procedure.